A lot of you guys are crazy because Bayless has the potential to be comparable to Russell Westbrook. Sure, his playmaking skills need work, but the guy is an excellent combo guard (I realize he's not a natural PG) who can fill it up when given the opportunity (and not on the coaches short leash). The guy has proven over and over again that when given starter minutes, he's able to produce in a major way, and I'm confident he'd be able to average at least 18 ppg, 4 rebs, and 6 apg if given 30+ minutes a game as a combo guard. That said, the Raptors should start Bayless for the rest of the season, and bring Calderon off the bench.

Also, I find it absolutely hilarious how certain people here are hestitant about Toronto exercising his qualifying offer of $4.1 million; especially after giving a guy like Amir Johnson a multi-year contract worth $6 million a year.

A lot of you guys are crazy because Bayless has the potential to be comparable to Russell Westbrook. Sure, his playmaking skills need work, but the guy is an excellent combo guard (I realize he's not a natural PG) who can fill it up when given the opportunity. The guy has proven over and over again that when given starter minutes, he's able to produce in a major way, and I'm confident he'd be able to average at least 18 ppg, 4 rebs, and 6 apg if given 30+ minutes a game as a combo guard. That said, the Raptors should start Bayless for the rest of the season, and bring Calderon off the bench.

Also, I find it absolutely hilarious how certain people here are hestitant about Toronto exercising his qualifying offer of $4.1 million; especially after giving a guy like Amir Johnson a contract worth $5-6 million a year.

You lost me at the bolded part. Have you watched Westbrook? His athleticism is off the charts. Arguably one of the most athletic guys in the league.

You lost me at the bolded part. Have you watched Westbrook? His athleticism is off the charts. Arguably one of the most athletic guys in the league.

Perhaps Westbrook wasn't the best comparison (I realize Westbrook is more athletic than Bayless), but I was mainly referring to his potential output in terms of points, rebounds, and assists being comparable to Westbrook's.

And everyone else ....granted Bayless is getting his but at the expence of the entire team. Interesting to hear from BC there was alot of interest in Calderon...and no mention Of Bayless. Only here on this board you will find where your best players get shit on.

And everyone else ....granted Bayless is getting his but at the expence of the entire team. Interesting to hear from BC there was alot of interest in Calderon...and no mention Of Bayless. Only here on this board you will find where your best players get shit on.

How so? Over the last 5 games, he's shooting 54% from the field while averaging 21.8 pts, 3.6 rebs, 7.6 ast, 2 stl, and 2.6 to's per game. Pretty sure those are all-star caliber numbers, and if the Raps aren't winning, it's not because of him.

I think a lot of you guys just don't like the guy for some reason. Maybe it's his on-court demeanor or the fact that he's not a natural PG or because he's bounced around the league a bit in his 4 year career, but it seems like a lot of you have it out for him (even when he plays extremely well). The guy could put up MVP caliber numbers for the rest of the season and a lot of you would still find something to complain about.. lol.

How so? Over the last 5 games, he's shooting 54% from the field while averaging 21.8 pts, 3.6 rebs, 7.6 ast, 2 stl, and 2.6 to's per game. Pretty sure those are all-star caliber numbers, and if the Raps aren't winning, it's not because of him.

I think a lot of you guys just don't like the guy for some reason. Maybe it's his on-court demeanor or the fact that he's not a natural PG, but it seems like a lot of you have it out for him (even when he plays extremely well).

Well, you're discussing Bayless with the bigest Calderon fanboy here. The only time he speaks is when discussing Jose or the PG position in general. Take it for what it is.

Also, I find it absolutely hilarious how certain people here are hestitant about Toronto exercising his qualifying offer of $4.1 million; especially after giving a guy like Amir Johnson a multi-year contract worth $6 million a year.

First of all, middle of the road big men in general command higher salaries than middle of the road guards.

Secondly, Amir Johnson signed that contract after proving over the course of an 82 game season that he could be consistent and durable.

Well, you're discussing Bayless with the bigest Calderon fanboy here. The only time he speaks is when discussing Jose or the PG position in general. Take it for what it is.

Take from it Jeff....who shits on our team.....and Euro players all the time. Sticks his nose into everything lol !
Baylesss with good numbers and most hate his game...ask yourself the question would you want Bayless as your point on your team ???? Hence that is why most dislike his game !

I am sorry, but Bayless is still not a point guard. He has proven, somewhat, that when starting and playing starter's minutes, he will produce - I am just not sure he is making a single other guy on the floor with him better.

The upcoming tough stretch of game vs. top-flight teams will definitely provide more information for analysis. I can easily see the Raps bringing Jose off the bench for a while after he returns, thus giving Bayless more chances to show what he can do as a starter. I just can't see a facilitator in him.

I agree, except I think it's possible he can be good defensively, and that he's likely been asked to make his defense a priority. To me, that's what he has to show over time, along with an improved ability to run the offense, and still score some even when the shot is off. It is a pretty big test that he's going to need to pass, but he still should get the opportunity to pass or fail.

I look at bayless and I see him doing pretty much what jack is doing in NO (and what jack was doing for us in stretches). Rather than a poor man's westbrook, I see a poor man's stuckey.

I would be very, very uncomfortable with bayless as our point guard of the future. As a backup though, you can certainly do worse. So it's all down to money. 3-4 millions is fair, 6+ is a major stretch.

I think he's RFA though, so that'll make it easy. There's no way anybody offers him even 5 million, so we should be able to get him cheaply (if we want him).

I look at bayless and I see him doing pretty much what jack is doing in NO (and what jack was doing for us in stretches). Rather than a poor man's westbrook, I see a poor man's stuckey.

I would be very, very uncomfortable with bayless as our point guard of the future. As a backup though, you can certainly do worse. So it's all down to money. 3-4 millions is fair, 6+ is a major stretch.

I think he's RFA though, so that'll make it easy. There's no way anybody offers him even 5 million, so we should be able to get him cheaply (if we want him).

Don't kid yourself. If he continues to do what he's done the last 10 games (or even 80% of what he's done) for the remaining 21 games, he'll be offered at least $5 million a year. Marcus Thornton was on the bench in New Orleans averaging like 7 ppg for 2/3 of the season, got traded to Sacramento, averaged like 21ppg the remaining 25-30 games, and ended up signing a deal worth $7-8 mil a year.

Don't kid yourself. If he continues to do what he's done the last 10 games (or even 80% of what he's done) for the remaining 21 games, he'll be offered at least $5 million a year. Marcus Thornton was on the bench in New Orleans averaging like 7 ppg for 2/3 of the season, got traded to Sacramento, averaged like 21ppg the remaining 25-30 games, and ended up signing a deal worth $7-8 mil a year.

not really sure what to think of bayless still, sure his numbers have been great, but its really been for 2-3 games and no jose and full knowledge in his mind that he is basically going to play every minute, so he has more minutes to inflate his numbers and no worries of being benched
he's also playing on a team that we all know has packed it in for the season and is not playing for anything, its still kind of hard to read into his recent success
at this point i am sticking with my initial feelings about him, he should be our backup PG as he's probably better than the majority of backup PGs and he has the ability to fill in at the starting PG every now and then, but the starting PG has to go to someone better than bayless, our goal here is a championship and bayless is not a championship starting PG, but i do think he's a championship backup PG
i say we sign/trade for an allstar PG, ship jose because his status demands too much of the salary to be our backup, and give bayless the backup role